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Ionic liquids have been widely regarded as promising alternatives to conventional solvents, celebrated for their low volatility, tunable properties, and potential to support safer chemical processes. They are often positioned as key enablers of green chemistry. However, increasing scrutiny is revealing a more complex picture in which some ionic liquids may present significant environmental and health concerns, including toxicity, persistence, and the potential to degrade into harmful by-products.
This webinar will explore the dual identity of ionic liquids as both sustainable tools and potential contaminants of emerging concern. It will present a balanced overview of recent scientific findings on their environmental behaviour, degradation pathways, and possible long-term impacts. The session will also touch on current regulatory thinking, particularly in Australasia, where broader frameworks are evolving to address the environmental risks associated with industrial chemicals.
Ionic liquids are widely used in various industrial applications, but some raise significant environmental concerns. Compounds containing the bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (NTf₂⁻) anion are commonly employed in lithium-ion batteries, electrochemical systems, and metal extraction due to their great thermal and electrochemical stability, as well as very low volatility. However, their persistence and potential to degrade into harmful by-products have raised environmental concerns similar to those associated with PFAS. Several imidazolium cations, such as 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C₈mim][Br]), are also widely used in catalysis and drilling fluids. While effective, they show toxicity to aquatic organisms and potential bioaccumulation, necessitating further environmental evaluation.
Participants of this webinar will gain insight into the scientific and practical dimensions of working with ionic liquids. The presentation will briefly cover their development history, the excitement they generated in the field of green chemistry, and the many innovative applications they have found in areas such as catalysis, electrochemistry, separation science, and materials synthesis. Attendees will leave with a well-rounded understanding of both the valuable properties that make these fascinating compounds so promising, and the emerging concerns linked to their use, encouraging them to think critically about their application in future research and industrial practice.
A technically focused webinar tailored for experienced practitioners in the field.
Jakub Maculewicz holds a PhD in chemistry from the University of Gdańsk, Poland, where his doctoral research focused on ionic chemicals, particularly ionic liquids, as potential environmental threats, with an emphasis on their bioconcentration potential. After completing his PhD, he continued his scientific career in Australasia, broadening his research in the analysis of environmental contaminants, assessment of their potential impacts, and development of remediation tools. He began with a six-month internship at the University of Queensland, where he investigated antimicrobials in Australian biosolids. He then joined the University of Canterbury as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, working on the development of novel, biobased adsorbents for the removal of contaminants from water. Jakub is currently beginning a new research role jointly between CSIRO and the University of Adelaide, focusing on analytical challenges related to PFAS and other emerging pollutants.
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